Joint pain can be normal for a child who is growing or active in sports. But continuous pain is not normal. Your child may be referred to a pediatric rheumatologist for a variety of complaints, including swollen joints, muscle pain, fatigue, an unusual rash, or fever. Our pediatric rheumatologists diagnose and treat conditions that cause pain, swelling and limited movement, so your child can get back to being active.
Rheumatic diseases often affect supporting body structures, such as muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons. However, rheumatic diseases can affect other areas of the body, including internal organs, connective tissues, and the body's immune system.
Conditions We Treat
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis (formerly called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
- systemic lupus erythematosus (or SLE, a chronic inflammation of joints, tendons, and some internal organs)
- Lyme disease (an infection caused by the deer tick)
- vasculitic disorders (inflammation of the blood vessels)
- scleroderma (a disease that affects joints, skin, and internal organs)
- benign hypermobility syndrome (very loose joints that cause joint pain)
- dermatomyositis (a disease that leads to progressive muscle damage and chronic skin changes)
- rheumatic fever (a disease that may develop after a strep infection)
- sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease where small, rounded growths invade different parts of the body)
